Photographic-printing machine.



A. SLETTEN.

PHOTOGRAPH() FRiNUNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION mit) Nov.27.1915.

1,209,631. Patented-Dec. 19,1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2I A. SLETTEN.

PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED Nov. 21, 1915.

-1209,631, Patented 1160.111916.

y 5p 4 5 SIgS-SHEET 3.

J0 ,155 Z 55 I4 l 5 JZ// 7 Z 65 $75 ,L56 f/ @11W m I j I Pllfd D00. 19, 1916.

sains-suur 4 APPLICATIQI FILED NOV. 2 1915.

A SLETTEN PnoonAPHlc Pnnmu MACHINE.

A. SLETTEN.

PNOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING NIACHINE.

APPLICATION mio Nov. 27. 1915.

1,209,631. l Patented Dec. 19,1916.

5 SHEETS- SHEET 5.

annu/woz ALBERT SLETTEN, 0F FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA.

PHOTO GRAPHIC-PRINTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Yatent.

Patented Dec. 19, 1916.

Application led November 27, 1,915. Serial No. 63,778.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALBERT SLETTEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fargo, in the county of Cass and State of North Dakota, have invented new and useful Improvements in Photographic-Printing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in photographic printing machines, and one object of the invention is to provide a machine of this character which is adapted for printing from either separate or roll films or plates, at will.

A further object of the invention is to provide a photographic printing machine which facilitates the operation of disposing in printing position a mask or cut-out of proper size, which provides for the use of paper from a roll and the cutting of the paper as required, either into individual prints or a series of prints in a strip, which also provides for the automatic feeding of the paper in position, and which facilitates and reduces the amount of time and labor required inl placing thefilm or pla-te in proper position in connection with the required mask or cut-out, the feeding and printing of the paper` and the 'other.neces sary operations. p

A still further object of the invention is to provide a photographic printing machine u which is simple of construction, reliable andA eflicient in operation, and which is adapted to feed the proper amount of paper toprinting position, and which can be readily and conveniently arranged to print from single films or glass'negatives or a strip of films from a roll, as desired. y

Vith these and other objects in view, the

invention consists of the features of` ,con-v struction,'combinati on and arrangement of parts herein fully described and claimed',w

reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a front elevation .of a photographic printing machine embodying my invention, showing the parts in normal position. Fig. 2 is a topr plan view showing the parts in printing position, as in printing from a film. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section on the line 3-3 of Figp2. Fig. t is a rear elevation, showing in full and dotted lines the im and paper clamp and the cooperating parts of the paper feed mechanism printing operation.

disposed in the yposition shown in Figs. 1

and 2. Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section showing the paper knife operated with the clamp for a cutting action.v Fig. 6A is a horizontalV transverse section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 1. 1 Fig. 7 is a vertical front to rear section through the apparatus taken on the line of the axis of the light chamber. Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 8-8 of Fig. 2, showing the paper feed device associated with the paper feed roll and showing in full and dotted lines the operation thereof.A

Fig. 9 is a detail view of the combined paper guide and stationary cutting knife. Fig. 10 is a view showing certain featuresv of construction of the clamp and knife actuating mechanism. Fig. 11 is a front elevation showing the application of a glass negative holder. Fig. 12 is a vertical longitudinal section through the holder. Fig. 13 is a similar view thereof showing-the, back of Athe holder open. Fig. 14 is a section on the line 11i-14 of Fig. 12. Fig. 15 is a plan view of the mask ring or cylinder as it would appear in flattened condition.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a suitable supporting frame upon which is mounted a light box or chamber 2, which is herein shown as of substantially cylindrical form, the upper portion of said box being `cut away to provide a printing space or opening 3, communicating with a doorway or space 4 1n the front of the box which is adapted tobe closed by a lid or cover 5, and

servesas a sightl opening, through which the operator may inspect the adjacent inclosed working parts whenever desired. This door way 4 also provides for the ready and convenient insertion and removal of one or more ground glass or other suitable light diffusing plates k6, through which the light rays from one or more lamps inclosed within the light box or chamber may be properly transmitted to the opening 3 for the Surrounding the circular light box :Orl

In practice, a ruby 'lamp in connection w1th one or more ordichamber is a drum or rim 8 of glass or other suitable transparent material, which is provided with opaque portions 8 dividing or setting off the surface of said ring to provide a desired arrangement and number of masks or cut-outs 9, in the form of light transmitting areas, any one of which may be brought into position in registry with the light opening 3 according to the size or character of the negative which is to be printed from, whereby'any selected mask may be conveniently adjusted for use and the time and labor involved in cuttingl out and applying different masks for different negatives saved. A turn-button or other suitable fastening member 10l is provided for holding the mask ring in position, but

upon the retraction of this turn-button the ring may be removed, so that rings of different character may be employed inter-` changeably.

A. negative and paper clamping device 11 is provided for clamping the negative and paper against the portion of the surface of the mask ring registering with the opening 3, and this clamp comprises a block of rec tangular or oblong rectangular form and having an inner concaved surface to lit the circumference of the cylinder, said surface being provided/with a facing 12 of felt or other suitable material to snugly engage the paper and iilm to bring the same into close abutting relation without injury thereto. This clamp is hinged, as at 13 to swing from a substantially horizontal or printing position back to a substantially vertical retracted or inoperative position, and to the outer or rear surface of this clamp is slidably and pivotally connected one end of an arm 14 projecting at right angles from a rock shaft 15, having another arm 16 provided with an actuating grip or handle 17, by means of which the clamp may be moved into and out of printing position. rlhe handle 17 is provided with a guard or guide member 18 for a purpose hereinafter described, and carried by the clamp is an auxiliary clamping or centering device comprising a head 19 carried by a stem 20, said head and stem being slidably movable through a guide member 21 communicating with a receiving opening 22 in the body of the clamp, the head 19 being normally held projected by a spring 23. "When the clamp is moved into position to engage the paper and film, the l auxiliary clamping head 19 first engages the paper and film and holds the same centrally while the concaved face of the clamp moves into clamping position, thus preventing the paper and film from shifting out of proper relationship and at the same time insuring the spreading out of the paper without wrinkling as the clamp comes into contact therewith. A pin 24 passes through the stem to detachably hold the auxiliary clamping cpu-rely gripped and fed forward. `V-Thepaper passes from the rolls 26 and 27 across the face of a guide plateor block 29, which is provided with uide members 30 and 3l. rlhe guide mami-loer4 30/"i's iiXed, while the guide member 31 is provided with a dovetailed projection 32 to engagera dove-tailed groove or guideway 33 in the plate, whereby said guide member 21 may be adjusted toward and from the guide member 30 to suit any desired width of paper, a handle 34 lbeing provided for adjusting the said guide member 31 in a convenient manner. The edge of the guide member adjacent to the printing opening 3 is provided with a fixed or stationary cutting blade 35, and said guide plate is 'hinged or pivoted at its rear end to the support, as shown at 36, so as to be swung from a normally horizontal working position to an inoperative position, and a spring or other elastic connection 37, which 95 is detachably fastened to the light box, is

provided for holding said guide plate down normally in guiding position 'while permitting of its detachment and upward and backward movement to an inoperative position, as hereinafter fully described. rllhe idler 28 is carried by a swinging arm 38 which is normally disposed to hold said idler in peripheral contact with the feed roll by means of a spring or other elastic element 39, but the free end of this arm is movable to throw the idler out of engagement with the feed roll and into engagement with a latch 40, whereby the idler may be held in such position, thus allowing the paper to be threaded and unthreaded in a ready and convenient manner at different times in the use of the apparatus.

' -Mechanism actuated by the movement of the clamp is provided for operating the feed roll 27 and feeding the paper to printing position. This mechanism comprises a connecting rod 41 having a bifurcated and slotted end portion 42 receiving a crank arm 43 carried by the rock shaft 15, said arm being perforated to receive a fastening pin 44 slidably and pivotally connecting the same with the bifurcated and slotted end of the connecting rod, whereby in the operation ofthe rock shaft the rod will be reciprocated. The rod is connected with one arm of a. pivoted lever 45, arranged upon the back of the supporting frame 1, and the other arm of which is coupled by a connecting rod or link- 46 with a swinging feed arm or lever 47 loosely jour- -able range of naled upon the frame and provided with ratchet teeth i8 to engage a dog or pawl projection 49 upon the feed roll, whereby in the working movement of said swinging arm the roll will be turned a prescribed distance while on the reverse or retractive movement of the arm the teeth of the VYwheel will slide over'th'e'pcint of the dog without Vturningthe feed roll. The free end ofthe arm is arranged to sweep in an are across a portion 50 of theUraCe of the frame, in which is Vformed a seriesofopenings 51'to receiveV a stop pin 52K wherebythe swingingmotion` of the arm m'ay'becontrolled, andsaid arm per mitted to move to varying distances within a maximum mark to feed a greater or less amount of paper to printing position. The surface 50 may be provided with a suitable scale arranged in proper relationship to the openings to indicate which particular open ing the stop pin should be inserted in to feed a quantity of paper sufficient for any size negative into printing position. The varifeed motion of the swinging feed arm is permitted by reason of the slot and pin connection between the same and the reciprocating rod 41, as will be readily understood.

For the purpose of arresting the motion of the feed roll the instant the motion of the feed arm is arrested, an automatic stop device is provided, and comprises a headed brake member 53 carried on the swinging arm and movable into and out of engagement with the feed roll, said brake member bein'g pivotally connected with a cam or eccentric 54, which is coupled by a link or connecting rod to a V-shaped or forked trip member 55 pivoted to the swinging arm and adapted to be held in either position beyond center by a spring 56'to lock the brake in both projected and retracted positions. The trip fork 55 is adapted to engage the/stop pin 52 in such mannerthat one of the arms of the work will engage the pin to throw the brake into action when the feed arm reaches the limit of its movement, and on the return movement of the feed arm the other arm of the trip fork will engage the pin and retract the brake to release the drum for the succeeding feeding motion. lt will thus be apparent that the feed mechanism may be set to feed a quantity of paper sufficient for a negative 'of any given size within predetermined limits, and that as soon as the paper is fed into position the motion of the feed roll will be stopped to prevent the supply of an excess amount of paper.

In practice, the paper may besupplied for each printing action and clamped in position with the iilm by simply moving the hand lever 17 downward, in which operatief. he paper fr, l n er hanisrn will be actuated, while upon g 'the handle upwardlv and rearw wird 'iv -will lie in the path knife will also understood.

ila-iup will be retracted to re-` lease the negative and printed paper. For use in connection with the paper feeding and clamping means and the stationary cutting knife 35 upon the guide plate Q9, I provide a movable cutting knife 56 which is arranged for movement on a line between the clamping device and the guide plate and is carried'by a rock shaft 57 having a handle 58 provided with right angles thereto, and which is adapted when the handle 17 is retracted to extend YVacross the arm 16, the handle 58 in this position lying in the space between the arm 16 and the guard 18. It will thus be understood that after the paper isyfed up and printed, the movable cuttingrnife may be swung downwardly and forwardly to cooperate with the. cutting knife 38 to sever the printed portion of paper from the roll or strip, and that in this position. the actuating handle and arm of the movable knife of the clamped handle, .so that when said clamped handle is swung backward to retract the clamp the movable be retracted. This construction also adapts the movable knife to be moved downward with the clamp to sever the paper from the roll at the time it is clamped, since both handles may be simultaneously grasped andmoved downward and be intermittently fed up for each print until the required number are made without operating` the cutting knife, the knife being oper* ated at the end of the series of printing actions so that all of the prints may be made upon/an intact strip of paper. This operation may also be pursued when it is desired to print a. series of different pictures upon a continuous stripof paper, asfwill be readily As described, the individual films may be successively clamped in position by the clamping device, but ifdesired a roll of film containing a series of pictures may be placed in position for successively printing the pictures thereon. en'this is done, the film roll 60 is placed around the revoluble mask cylinder and secured in position by spring clips 61 engaging the ends thereof, said clips having an elastic connection 62, whereby the film m av be held in place in such a way that films of different lengths may be applied and so that each film roll may be slipped around in position for successively printing through the different -'negative portions an arm 59 arranged at 1t will thus be unmore prints are to be made-from the same negative the paper may thereof, as Will be readily understood. lin order that the size of the opening 3 may be varied to suit different sizes of negatives, segmental shutters 63 are provided at, the opposite sides of said opening and age normally held retracted by springs 64;,y p said shutters being coupled by Winding connections 65 With a Winding shaft 6 6 provided with a crank handle 67, whereby said shutters may be adjusted toward or from each other to vary the size of the opening 8 as required, a suitable latch mechanism 68 being provided to secure the shutters 1n ade justed position. lf desired, a clamp 69 may be provided at the rear portion of the light opening 3 to engage andholdseparate films and pieces of paper temporarily in position prior and subsequent to the clamping action of the clamping device 1l, and this clamping member may be pivotally supported by mounting it upon a rock shaft 70 having at one end a handle 7l pressed by a spring 72 to normally maintain said clamp in position. rlhe guide plate 29 is adapted, upon disconnecting its spring or. elastic connection 37 from the light box, to be turned upwardly and backwardly to a vertical position, so that When the guide plate is so adjusted and the clamping device and knife are also turned back a holder 73 may be applied to the mask cylinder in line With the light opening 3 for holding glass negatives in position tov be printed. llfhis holder comprises an open rectangular frame havin@ a concaved face to fit the mask cylinder an provided upon the interior thereof with ledges or shoulders 74- against which the glass plate or negative 75 may rest. When appliedin position for use, the holder may be secured to the` light box by llt'iookjedrfastening members 76 engaging keeper -pinsor studs 77 upon the front of the vlight box. rilhe outer side of the holder frame is adapted to be closed by a back or cover 78 composed of a pair of sections hinged to eachV other, as indicated at 79, and hinged or pivoted atrone end to the box frame, as indicated at 80, the opposite or free end of the cover being connected by a link 8LWithea hand lever 82 pivoted to the/frame, and whereby the cover/may be closed to clamp the negative and paper in position or opened for the removal of the same. By means of the link mo/ti/on may be transmitted to tine,

cover from' the lever for positively opening and closing said cover, and coiled springs 83 are provided upon the leverand VVcover which are tensioned When the lever is moved to closed position to apply the yielding pressure to Clamp the cover in applied position., as Will be readily understood. At its freel end the lever is provided With a latch 84 to engage a keeper 85 on the frame, for securthe lever in closed position. The front of frame is cut away at its upper edge to form a space for the reception of a paper guiding and cutting blade 86 Which is pivotally supported by a rock shaft 87 having a crank handle 88, so that the blade may be tilted to permit the paper to be inserted between the same and the adjacent surface of the frame, it being evident that when the paper is applied .to lie in contact With the negative it will be held from displacement by the blade and upon `being so applied the exact amount of paper may be cut olf from an endless strip. rEhe use of the holder permits of prints being made from negatives with the same degree of efficiency and celerity as in making prints from films.

F rom the foregoing description, taken in connection With the drawings, the construction and mode of operation of my improved photographic printing machine Will be readily understood, and it Will lbe seen that the invention provides a machine of this character which -is simple of construction, reliable and efficient in action, and adapted to permit of the printing of single photographs or a group or series of photographs from a single film or roll of ilms, and of the changing of the mask or light transmitting space to suit'the sizel and character of negative Which is being printed from. it Will further be evident that the vinvention provides a machine which accomplishes all of the other stated objects in a thoroughly efficient manner, and in addition is adapted for the printing of photographs from glass negatives Without in any manner altering the constructionV of the machine.

l claim:

l.- In a photographic printing machine, a light box having a light transmitting opening; a cylinder having n'masking portions andmrevolubly mounted on said box to bring dierent masking portions thereof into line With said opening, relatively adjustable' shutters Within the cylinder, said shutters being relatively adjustable iiiV Yanarc concentric With the cylinder to vary the size of said opening, and means for relatively adjusting said shutters.

2. lin a photographic printing machine, a light box havinga light transmitting opening, paper feeding mechanism for feeding paper to said opening, a combined paper and negative clamping device movable to- Ward and from the opening, and mechanism for 4simultaneously actuating V`the paper feeding mechanism and clampingl device, said mechanism being operative to move the paper and clamping device in planes substantially at right angles to each other.

3. ln a photographic'rprinting machine, a light box having a light transmitting opening, paper feeding mechanism, a paper and negative clampingY device; `mechanism for simultaneously actuating the feeding mechanism and clamping device, and means form- "means forva the paper feeding means.

hic printing machine, al

throw thereof.

4. In a photographic printing machine, a

I l light box having a light transmitting opening, a c linder having masking portions and revolub y mounted on said box to bring different masking portions thereof into line with said opening, relatively movable seg-v mental shutters within thecylinder adjustfio able on arcs' concentric with the cylinder "rwitli relation to said light opening, and

means for simultaneously ad]ustiiig said shutters. l

v5. In a photographic printing machine, a

4light box having a light transmitting opening, a'mask cylinder having masking portions revolubly mounted on said box to bring y different masking portions thereof into line with said opening, and means on said box for'liolding a negative and sheet of. paper in position for printing.` 6. In a light box ing, a clamping device movable wit tion to said openin a'nd a spring pressed yielding auxiliary c amping member on said clampingl device.

7. In a photographic printing machine, va

light box aving a light transmitting openin paper clamping means movable with re ation to said: opening, paper. feedingy I means for feedingA paper to a position between said light transmitting o en'ing,

" lightbox having a ing/means forfsupporting and bringing a" film ,-ii'iti') position in'line with the openinegij.

..-.--means forvconjointly operating sai paper means, and

feeding.l and pa r clam in iiieg the eedng action of 18.--In'- a photogra light transmitting opena-paper mechanism, 4a combin palperand'lmclam and meansfor variy 9.'"In'a lightbox v;.i`ng`,"a paper feeding mechanism includingv 4,a swinging arm, means for varying vthe throw of said arm, a paper and negative ab yad'ustin'g. said ceding 'mechanism and Peper otograpliic printing machine, a

ight transmitting openg avin'g a y clamping devioemovable with relation to the light opening to clamp. and release the paperV and connecting means betweensaid photographic Aprinting machine, a-

aving a light transmittin openj rela a light box. having a lighttransmitting opening,l vclampingv means,` paper feeding means, and means for operating said clamping and paper `feeding me'ans in unison.

11. In a photographic printing machine,v

a light box having a light' transmitting opening, clampin means movable with relation to the opening, -paper feev mechanism for feedin paper betweensai vclamping means an means. for varying the t feeding mechanism. p

12. In a photographic printing machine, a light box having va light transmitting opening, paper feedin mechanism including a roll, a-paper an negative clamping device, mechanism for simultaneousl actuating the feeding mechanism and c amping device, and means forming part of said mechanism for varying the throw of the feeding means and limiting the motion thereo l l 13. In a photographic rinting machine, -a light box having alight transmitting opening, a. pivoted clampingdevice movable toward andfrom the opening, a paper feeding mechanism vincluding a lever, pawl and ratchet mechanism actuated by said lever, means for varying the throw of the lever, and .means for operating the clamping device and unison.

14. In a phot row of the paper phic printing machine,

a light box having a light transmitting.

opening, a clampin device pivoted' for openin and controlling` paper feeding means in movement toward an from the same, paper 'operating the clam ing device said clamp adjustp i .deviceaiidgiii e member i ab e to van o ut'ofthe way position, substantially and for thepurpose described.

ide for the In ltestimony whereof I aix my sign-a.- j

'. ture in presence of two witnesses. v

ALBERT SLETTEN. Witnesses:

JOHN G. Puma, .Tomav ma. 

